Head of the River (Australia)

The Head of the River is a name given to six annual Australian rowing regattas held in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia and South Australia. The regattas feature competing independent schools, and the winner of the 1st division boys or girls race is crowned the "Head of the River".

The name "Head of the River" is taken from similar regattas held in other countries including the Head of the River Race held annually on the Thames in London since 1926.

New South Wales

NSW Head of the River Regatta

The Head of the River rowing regatta takes place in Penrith, New South Wales, Australia every March at the Sydney International Regatta Centre (SIRC). From 1936-1995 the races were held on the Nepean River and before that on the Parramatta River. It is the culmination of the GPS (Greater Public Schools) rowing season for senior crews, and has been held since 1893. Eight of the nine GPS schools, with the exception of TAS (The Armidale School), are Sydney Grammar School, The King's School, Newington College, Sydney Boys High School, The Scots College, St. Joseph's College, St. Ignatius' College and The Shore School, send their crews to the Head of the River.

NSW Schoolgirl Head of the River Regatta

The NSW Schoolgirl's Head of the River was first raced in 1996, and is typically held at the Sydney International Regatta Centre (SIRC), Penrith on the Sunday following the Schoolboys Head of the River. It is the culmination of the Schoolgirl's rowing season.

Queensland

On 13 October 1990 the Inaugural Schoolgirl's Head of the River was held on the Milton reach of the Brisbane River. The seven schools that competed were All Hallows', Brisbane State High School, St Aidan's, St Hilda's, St Margaret's, St Peter's and Somerville House. Sixteen events were competed with 118 competitors and 3 entries in the Open 8+. The newly formed Brisbane Schoolgirls Rowing Association conducted the Head of the River with additional competitors from Brisbane Girls' Grammar School, Clayfield College, Indooroopilly State High School, Kelvin Grove State High School and Stuartholme School. By 1992, entries in the Open 8+ had doubled to six, the number of events expanded to 19 and 11 schools competed.

Victoria

VIC Head of the River Regatta

The Victorian race is contested between the 11 Associated Public Schools of Victoria (APS).

The race is usually the last race of the official APS rowing season and has recently been rowed on Lake Nagambie which is a full buoyed international standard course allowing six boat finals.

VIC Head of the Schoolgirls Regatta

1984 was the final year school girls participated in the APS Head of the River. The Principal of Morongo Girls’ School initiated a meeting that establishes the Head of School Girls’ Regatta. The first HOSG was held in 1987 at Ballarat with 7 events, 16 schools and 240 competitors. In 1987, the event moved to Geelong. In 1991, the HOSG Regatta Committee became an incorporated association.

Western Australia

WA Head of the River Regatta

The Perth race held in late summer/early autumn is contested between the 7 Public Schools Association members. The regatta consists of many races with points contributing to the Hamer Cup, and in the final race of the day, the 1st VIII crews from each school compete for the Head of the River trophy. The race is run on the Canning River, near Western Australian Institute of Sport's rowing shed at Canning Bridge.

WA Head of the Schoolgirls Regatta

In the winter several private Perth girls schools race for the title.

Tasmania

The Tasmanian Head Of The River is currently held at the Lake Barrington Rowing Course. Held over the full championship distance, the schools associated with SATIS (Sports Association of Tasmanian Independent Schools) from both the north and south of the state compete for the 'holy grail' of Tasmanian schools rowing. The Hutchins School, Launceston Church Grammar, The Friends School, Guilford Young College, Scotch Oakburn College, St Patrick's College and St Brendan-Shaw College all compete in the boys race, while St Michael's Collegiate School, The Friends School, Scotch Oakburn College, St. Patrick's College, St Mary's College and Launceston Church Grammar all compete for the girls trophy.

The Head Of The River regatta is often held the Saturday before Easter. However, in 2006 the Head Of The River was postponed for the first time in its Tasmanian History with a limited regatta program being amalgamated in to the Tasmanian Masters Regatta. This was able to cater for the main races with Hutchins taking out the boys Head Of The River trophy and St Michael's Collegiate School the girls.

In 2007 Scotch Oakburn won their first Head of the River in a decade in a tight race with just a second between themselves, Launceston Church Grammar and The Hutchins School. The chance for Hutching to claim their 5th consecutive title was denied. The Friends School came a distant 4th place after much hype.In the girls event the dominant Friends School Crew crew won easily over Launceston Church Grammar with surprise combination coming from Fahan School gaining second place.

* First VIII - "Tasmanian School Boys Head of the River"

A Girls Head of the River results

* First VIII - "The Florence Eaton Cup"

References

External links

* [http://www.rowingaustralia.com.au/homepage.shtm Rowing Australia]
* [http://www.rowingvictoria.asn.au/html/s01_home/home.asp?dsb=99 Rowing Victoria]
* [http://www.rowingnsw.asn.au/ NSW Rowing]
* [http://www.rowingwa.asn.au/ Rowing WA]
* [http://www.rowingqld.asn.au/ Rowing Queensland]
* [http://www.rowingact.org.au/ ACT Rowing]
* [http://www.rowingsa.asn.au/ SA Rowing Association]
* [http://www.rowingtas.asn.au/ Tasmanian Rowing Council]
* [http://regattacentre.nsw.gov.au/ Sydney International Rowing Centre]